Profession: Gymnast
Biography: Larisa Latynina made her Olympic debut at the 1956 Melbourne Games, winning 4 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze. in a career that included the 1956, 1960, and 1964 games, she collected a total of 18 Olympic medals (9 gold). She held the record for most individual Olympic medals until American swimmer Mike Phelps passed her in 2012 She remains the most decorated female Olympian.
In addition to the quadrennial games, she was World Champion in 1958 and 1962, and European Champion in 1957 and 1961.
Latynina retired from competition in 1966 and became coach of the Soviet women's gymnastic team, leading them to Olympic gold wins in the 1968, 1972, and 1976 games.
Born: December 27, 1934
Birthplace: Kherson, Ukraine, Soviet Union
Age: 89 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Dog
Star Sign: Capricorn
Historical Events
- 1956-12-05 Soviet artistic gymnast Larisa Latynina wins the women's vault and ties for gold in the floor exercise section at the Melbourne Olympics; later takes gold total to 4 with teams and individual all-round titles
- 1956-12-07 Soviet artistic gymnast Larisa Latynina takes her gold medal tally to 4 at the Melbourne Olympics; wins teams and individual all-round titles having earlier won vault and floor exercise sections
- 1960-09-10 Gymnastics competition at the Rome Olympics concludes with the Soviet Union taking 10 of the 15 gold medals; Soviet gymnasts Boris Shakhlin & Larisa Latynina win 3 gold medals each
- 1964-10-23 Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina wins the floor exercise gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics; her 2nd gold of the Games (team) and career 9th (1956, 1960, 1964), a gymnastics record
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